After the fall of Gojoseon, the southern part of the peninsula consolidated into three confederations (collectively Samhan): Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. In the north, Goguryeo was founded in southern Manchuria in 37 BC, claiming to be the successor to a branch of Buyeo. Among the other various small states in former Gojoseon territory were the neighboring Buyeo, and Okjeo and Dongye in t ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

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After the fall of Gojoseon, the southern part of the peninsula consolidated into three confederations (collectively Samhan): Mahan, Jinhan, and Byeonhan. The Mahan and Jinhan confederations reconquered three of the Chinese commanderies in 82 BC and 75 BC. In the north, Goguryeo was founded in southern Manchuria in 37 BC, claiming to be the successor to a branch of Buyeo. Among the other various small states in former Gojoseon territory were the neighboring Buyeo, and Okjeo and Dongye in the ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century

Main article: Names of Korea "Korea" derives from the Goryeo/Koryŏ (고려) period of Korean history, which in turn referred to the ancient kingdom of Goguryeo/Koguryŏ (고구려). In the Korean language, Korea as a whole is referred to as Han'guk (한국, Han Nation) by South Korea and Chosŏn (조선) by North Korea. ...

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Korea, Korea - Names of Korea, Korea - Culture and philosophy, Korea - History, Korea - Gojoseon, Korea - The Three Kingdoms, Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, Korea - Goryeo, Korea - Joseon, Korea - Japanese occupation, Korea - Division, Korea - Civil war and hopes for reunification, Korea - Geography, Korea - Demographics, Korea - Korea in sporting events, Korea - Further readings, Korea - Special characters

Read more here: » Korea: Encyclopedia II - Korea - Names of Korea

Gojoseon, Jin Proto-Three Kingdoms:  Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye  Samhan, Gaya Three Kingdoms:  Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla Unified Silla, Balhae Later Three Kingdoms Goryeo Joseon Japanese Rule Divided Korea:  N. Korea, S. Korea List o ...

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Dongye, Dongye - History, Dongye - People and culture

Read more here: » Dongye: Encyclopedia II - Dongye - People and culture

Main article: Goryeo The kingdom of Goryeo was founded in 918 and replaced Silla as the dominant power in Korea in the years 935-936. ("Goryeo" is a short form of "Goguryeo" and the source of the English name "Korea.") The kingdom lasted until 1392. During this period laws were codified, and a civil service system was introduced. Buddhism flourished, and spread throughout the peninsula. In 1231 the Mongols began its campaigns against Korea and after 25 years of struggle, the royal family surrendered by signing a treaty with the Mongols. For the following 80 years Goryeo survived, ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

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Main article: Goryeo The kingdom of Goryeo was founded in 918 and replaced Silla as the dominant power in Korea in the years 935-936. ("Goryeo" is a short form of "Goguryeo" and the source of the English name "Korea.") The kingdom lasted until 1392. During this period laws were codified, and a civil service system was introduced. Buddhism flourished, and spread throughout the peninsula. In 1231 the Mongols invaded Korea and after 25 years of struggle the royal family surrendered by signing a treaty with the Mongols. For the fol ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Goryeo

Main articles: Gojoseon, Dangun, Founding Myth of Korea According to legend, Korea's first kingdom, Gojoseon (고조선, then called Joseon), was founded by Dangun in 2333 BC, in southern Manchuria and northern Korean peninsula. The people of Gojoseon belonged to the Tungusic family and were linguistically affiliated with the Altaic. Around 2000 BC, a new pottery culture is evidenced, with painted designs, in Manchuria and northern Korea. Intensive agriculture and complex societies dev ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC

Main article: Division of Korea The unconditional surrender of Japan, the earlier collapse of Nazi Germany, combined with fundamental shifts in global politics and ideology, led to the division of Korea into two occupation zones effectively starting on September 8, 1945, with the United States administering the southern half of the peninsula and the Soviet Union taking over the area north of the 38th parallel. This division was meant to be temporary and was first intended to return a unified Korea back to its people until the United States, United Kingdom, Soviet Union, and Rep ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - The division of Korea

In 1910 Japan annexed Korea by the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty which was signed under duress. (See also: Japanese war crimes) Korea continued to be ruled by Japan under a Governor-General of Korea until Japan's unconditional surrender to the Allied Forces on 15 August 1945. European based transport and communication networks were established across the nation. This facilitated Japanese commerce, but modernization had little if any effect on the Korean people, it being used to serve Japanese trade needs, and their tight centralized c ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Japanese Occupation

Main article: Joseon Dynasty In 1392 a Korean general, Yi Seonggye, was sent to China to campaign against the Ming Dynasty, but instead he allied himself with the Chinese, and returned to overthrow the Goryeo king and establish a new dynasty. The Joseon Dynasty moved the capital to Hanseong (formerly Hanyang; modern-day Seoul) in 1394 and adopted Confucianism as the country's official religion, resulting in much loss of power and wealth by the Buddhists. During this period, the Hangul al ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Joseon

Main articles: Gojoseon, Dangun According to legend, Korea's first kingdom, Gojoseon (고조선, then called Joseon), was founded by Dangun in 2333 BC, in southern Manchuria and northern Korean peninsula. The people of Gojoseon belonged to the Tungusic family and were linguistically affiliated with the Altaic. Around 2000 BC, a new pottery culture is evidenced, with painted designs, in Manchuria and northern Korea. Intensive agriculture and complex societies dev ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC

Main articles: Balhae, Unified Silla In 660, King Munmu of Silla ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, defeated General Ge-Baek and conquered Baekje. In 661, he moved on Goguryeo but was repelled. King Munmu ordered General Kim to launch another campaign in 667 and, in 668, Goguryeo fell. The post-668 Silla kingdom is often referred to as Unified Silla. Unified Silla lasted for 267 ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla

Main article: History of Korea Gojoseon, Jin Proto-Three Kingdoms:  Buyeo, Okjeo, Dongye  Samhan, Gaya Three Kingdoms:  Goguryeo, Baekje, Silla Unified Silla, Balhae Later Three Kingdoms Goryeo Joseon Japanese Rule Divided Korea:  N. Korea, S. Korea List of RulersSee also:

Korea, Korea - Names of Korea, Korea - Culture and philosophy, Korea - History, Korea - Gojoseon, Korea - The Three Kingdoms, Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, Korea - Goryeo, Korea - Joseon, Korea - Japanese occupation, Korea - Division, Korea - Civil war and hopes for reunification, Korea - Geography, Korea - Demographics, Korea - Korea in sporting events, Korea - Further readings, Korea - Special characters

Read more here: » Korea: Encyclopedia II - Korea - History

In 395, during a campaign against Baekje, the emperor himself attacked and conquered Biryu, a small nation located in cenral Manchuria. Its exact location is not known but it was not very far from the Songhwa River. In 400 the Kingdom of Later Yan, founded by the Murong clan of the Xianbei in present-day Liaoning province, attacked Goguryeo. Gwanggaeto responded swiftly, recovering most of the territory seized by the Xienpei and driving most of them from Goguryeo. Then in 402, he decided to launch an attack on Xienpei itself, determin ...

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Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo, Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo - Birth and background, Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo - Rise to power and campaigns against Baekje, Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo - Conquest of the north, Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo - Southeastern campaigns, Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo - Death and legacy

Read more here: » Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo: Encyclopedia II - Gwanggaeto the Great of Goguryeo - Conquest of the north

Main articles: Balhae, Unified Silla In 660, King Munmu of Silla ordered his armies to attack Baekje. General Kim Yu-shin, aided by Tang forces, defeated General Ge-Baek and conquered Baekje. In 661, he moved on Goguryeo but was repelled. King Munmu ordered General Kim to launch another campaign in 667 and, in 668, Goguryeo fell. The post-668 Silla kingdom is often referred to as Unified Silla. Unified Silla lasted for 267 years u ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla

Archaeological evidence shows that humans first inhabited the peninsula about 700,000 years ago. Tool-making artifacts from the Palaeolithic period (70,000 BC to 40,000 BC) have been found in present-day North Hamgyong, South P'yongan, Gyeonggi, and north and south Chungcheong Provinces. The people were cave dwellers and built homes, using fire for food and warmth. They hunted, gathered and fished with stone tools. Earliest known Korean pottery dates to around 8000 BC or before, and evidence of Mesolithic Pit-Comb Ware culture or Yung ...

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History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Prehistory

Korea is located on the Korean Peninsula in North-East Asia. It is bound by two countries and three seas. To the northwest, the Yalu River separates Korea from China and to the north, the Tumen River separates Korea from Russia. The Yellow Sea is to the west, the South China Sea is to the south, and the Sea of Japan (East Sea) is to the east of Korea. Notable islands include Jeju-do, Ulleung-do, and Liancourt Rocks (Dok-do). The southern part and western part of the Korean mainland have well developed plains, while the eastern and nor ...

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Korea, Korea - Names of Korea, Korea - Culture and philosophy, Korea - History, Korea - Gojoseon, Korea - The Three Kingdoms, Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, Korea - Goryeo, Korea - Joseon, Korea - Japanese occupation, Korea - Division, Korea - Civil war and hopes for reunification, Korea - Geography, Korea - Demographics, Korea - Korea in sporting events, Korea - Further readings, Korea - Special characters

Read more here: » Korea: Encyclopedia II - Korea - Geography

In 472, King Gaero of Baekje sent a letter to the emperor of Northern Wei. He stated that he was having trouble interacting with Wet because of frequent Goguryeo intervention, thus calling for military action against Goguryeo. Emperor Jangsu also seek for the chance to invade southern kingdoms of Korea, Baekje and Silla. While Northern Wei and Song fighting each other, Jangsu secretly planned to attack Baekje, which still had significant power in the peninsula despite of its losses against Gwanggaeto the Great's invasions. To disarm B ...

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Jangsu of Goguryeo, Jangsu of Goguryeo - Background, Jangsu of Goguryeo - Early Reign, Jangsu of Goguryeo - Northwestern Campaign, Jangsu of Goguryeo - Southern Expansion, Jangsu of Goguryeo - Relations with China and Rourans, Jangsu of Goguryeo - Death and Legacy

Read more here: » Jangsu of Goguryeo: Encyclopedia II - Jangsu of Goguryeo - Southern Expansion

Archaeological evidence shows that humans first inhabited the peninsula about 700,000 years ago. Tool-making artifacts from the Palaeolithic period (70,000 BC to 40,000 BC) have been found in present-day North Hamgyong, South P'yongan, Gyeonggi, and north and south Chungcheong Provinces. The people were cave dwellers and built homes, using fire for cooking food and warmth. They hunted, gathered and fished with stone tools. Earliest known Korean pottery dates back to around 8000 BC or before, and evidence of Mesolithic Pit-Comb Ware cu ...

See also:

History of Korea, History of Korea - Prehistory, History of Korea - Gojoseon ? - 108 BC, History of Korea - Proto-Three Kingdoms of Korea 108 BC - 3rd century, History of Korea - Three Kingdoms 3rd century - 668, History of Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, History of Korea - Goryeo, History of Korea - Joseon, History of Korea - 19th century, History of Korea - Japanese Occupation, History of Korea - The division of Korea

Read more here: » History of Korea: Encyclopedia II - History of Korea - Prehistory

Main article: Culture of Korea During the 7th and 8th centuries, land and sea trading networks connected Korea and Arabia. Koreans used wooden printing blocks by 751. Metal movable type was invented in Korea as early as 1232 (although clay prints were earlier invented in China), before Johann Gutenberg developed metal letterset type (Cumings 1997: 65). Hangul was created by King Sejong in 1443. During the Koryo period, Korean silk was considered by China to be the best in the world; Korean pottery made with blue-green celadon w ...

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Korea, Korea - Names of Korea, Korea - Culture and philosophy, Korea - History, Korea - Gojoseon, Korea - The Three Kingdoms, Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, Korea - Goryeo, Korea - Joseon, Korea - Japanese occupation, Korea - Division, Korea - Civil war and hopes for reunification, Korea - Geography, Korea - Demographics, Korea - Korea in sporting events, Korea - Further readings, Korea - Special characters

Read more here: » Korea: Encyclopedia II - Korea - Culture and philosophy

South Korea hosted the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, giving the country an economic boost through increased tourism and greater world recognition. At the time, North_Korea boycotted the event on the grounds that it was not made co-host. A unified Korean team competed under the Unification Flag in 1991 in both the 41st World Table Tennis Championship in Chiba, Japan and in the 6th World Youth Soccer Championship in Lisbon, Portugal. A unified Korean team marched under the Unification Flag in the opening ceremonies of the 2000 Summer O ...

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Korea, Korea - Names of Korea, Korea - Culture and philosophy, Korea - History, Korea - Gojoseon, Korea - The Three Kingdoms, Korea - Balhae and Unified Silla, Korea - Goryeo, Korea - Joseon, Korea - Japanese occupation, Korea - Division, Korea - Civil war and hopes for reunification, Korea - Geography, Korea - Demographics, Korea - Korea in sporting events, Korea - Further readings, Korea - Special characters

Read more here: » Korea: Encyclopedia II - Korea - Korea in sporting events